Ryan Zinke's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Ryan Zinke has refused to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2016 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests. Historically, candidates have failed to complete our test due to the advice they receive from their parties and advisors and out of fear of negative attack ads. Ryan Zinke is still welcome to submit the test at any time.

Issue Positions

In response to the increasing unwillingness of candidates to answer issue questions, Project Vote Smart has researched Presidential and Congressional candidates' public records to determine candidates' likely responses on certain key issues. These issue positions, from the year 2016, are provided below as a courtesy to voters.

Pro-life

Abortion: Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation?

Vote Smart's Research

"I am pro-life, but believe that the difficult decision to abort a child is the providence of God and family, not government." http://votesmart.org/candidate/political-courage-test/104073/ryan-zinke/#.VYxhZnUViko (votesmart.org)

"I believe in the sanctity of life, and I believe Congress has a responsibility to give a voice to those who are voiceless." https://zinke.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ryan-zinke-votes-protect-life-0 (zinke.house.gov)

Budget: In order to balance the budget, do you support an income tax increase on any tax bracket?

Vote Smart's Research

"I support real tax reform to make the tax code fairer, flatter, and simpler for Montana families and small businesses." https://zinke.house.gov/issues/tax-reform (zinke.house.gov)

"I support a Balanced Budget Amendment. Montana is constitutionally obligated to balance our budget; Washington should have to as well." https://zinke.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ryan-zinke-s-reaction-obama-budget (zinke.house.gov)

No

Crime: Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders?

Vote Smart's Research

Economy: Do you support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Vote Smart's Research

"Missoula's airport is absolutely vital for the community. It supports not only residents, but also tourists coming to Montana to enjoy our beautiful public lands, professors and students visiting the university, and further opportunities for international trade [â¦] It is critical we invest in Montana's airport infrastructure as a means to bolster our local and state economies and strengthen our communities. I firmly believe building up our infrastructure is a fundamental role of government, and a critical investment, not expense, that will prepare Montana for the future. I congratulate MSO on the grants and applaud their proactive successes." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/1091604/zinke-announces-13-million-grant-for-missoula-airport (votesmart.org)

"The Presidentâs proposal is not a budget; itâs the Christmas list of special interests, paid for on the backs of hard-working Montanans. The Presidentâs proposal would increase taxes by $2.1 trillion, add $2.4 trillion in new government spending, add $8.5 trillion to the almost $18 trillion national debt, and never even come close to balancing the budget." https://zinke.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ryan-zinke-s-reaction-obama-budget (zinke.house.gov)

"Washington needs to stop taxing our children to pay for wasteful government spending." https://zinke.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/tax-day-no-red-letter-day (zinke.house.gov)

Vote Smart's Research

"The Presidentâs proposal is not a budget; itâs the Christmas list of special interests, paid for on the backs of hard-working Montanans. The Presidentâs proposal would increase taxes by $2.1 trillion, add $2.4 trillion in new government spending, add $8.5 trillion to the almost $18 trillion national debt, and never even come close to balancing the budget." https://zinke.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ryan-zinke-s-reaction-obama-budget (zinke.house.gov)

"I support real tax reform to make the tax code fairer, flatter and simpler for Montana families and small businesses. I know Montanans pay too much in taxes." https://zinke.house.gov/issues (zinke.house.gov)

No

Education: Do you generally support requiring states to adopt federal education standards?

Vote Smart's Research

"We must not allow the federal government to mandate the implementation of a cookie-cutter curriculum that results in teaching-to-the-test, not to the student." https://votesmart.org/public-statement/927021/zinke-announces-education-plan (votesmart.org)

"Congressman Zinke believes parents and communities know how to raise their children better than Washington, D.C., which is why he opposes common core. Zinke will remain committed to restoring parent and local school board control, and support families who chose to homeschool. Every child is different and has different needs and interests." https://zinke.house.gov/issues (zinke.house.gov)

"As a father and grandfather, former Chairman of the Montana Senate Education Committee, and former 'Dean' of the U.S. Navy SEAL Advanced Training Command I firmly believe that in order to reform education policies, we must ensure more local control of our schools and giving parents a stronger voice." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/856822/issue-position-expanding-education-opportunities/?search=Education#.VYxpcXUViko (votesmart.org)

Yes

Energy: Do you support building the Keystone XL pipeline?

Vote Smart's Research

"For too long the people of Montana have been waiting for Washington to quit playing politics with our jobs and American energy and finally build the Keystone XL pipeline." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/947793/zinke-legislation-to-build-keystone-passes-house-with-bipartisan-support#.VYxoUXUViko (votesmart.org)

Yes

Energy: Do you support government funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, thermal)?

Vote Smart's Research

"Rep. Zinke believes we need to use every tool available in our energy toolbox to acheive American energy independence and that includes building the Keystone XL Pipeline, developing clean coal, and encouraging renewable energy research and development because it is critical that Montana families and businesses have access to reliable and affordable energy." https://zinke.house.gov/issues/energy (zinke.house.gov)

"Renewable and alternative sources of energy, including hydro and biofuels, are also an important component of energy independence provided that they are cost effective and able to compete on the open market without subsidies." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/856806/issue-position-promoting-energy-independence#.VaP54HUVhHw (votesmart.org)

No

Environment: Do you support the federal regulation of greenhouse gas emissions?

Vote Smart's Research

Watchdog Wire "Montana holds twenty-five percent of the nationâs recoverable coal reserves, and coal produces fifty-one percent of the stateâs energy. The regulations that the EPA has imposed will prevent new plants from being built, close current plants, and put thousands of hard-working Montanans out of work." http://watchdogwire.com/montana/2013/11/01/montanans-call-on-epa-on-coal/ (watchdogwire.com)

Voted in favor of S.J.Res.23 "A Joint Resolution Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title 5, United States Code, of a Rule Submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency Relating to 'Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units' " http://votesmart.org/bill/votes/54616 (votesmart.org)

"The EPA is causing Montana to bleed jobs. The J.E. Corette power plant and the 30 hardworking folks who rely on the plant for their paychecks are the latest casualties in the EPAâs war on coalâthat doesnât even take into account the negative impact current and proposed EPA regulations have on home heating prices." https://zinke.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/epa-causing-montana-bleed-jobs (zinke.house.gov)

No

Guns: Do you generally support gun-control legislation?

Vote Smart's Research

"Ryan is a staunch advocate of our right to bear arms. He believes our Second Amendment rights protect all the others. Ryan fully supports the rights of lawful gun and ammo ownership and he will not tolerate anyone trying to take that away through Congressional or Executive action." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/1054423/issue-position-montana-values (votesmart.org)

Health Care: Do you support repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act ("Obamacare")?

Vote Smart's Research

Voted in favor of H.R.596 "Repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care-Related Provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010" http://votesmart.org/bill/votes/51284#.VYxrtnUViko (votesmart.org)

"Obamacare as written is reckless and will lead to higher costs with less medical care. [â¦] Health care must be affordable but not free [...]" http://votesmart.org/public-statement/856813/issue-position-lowering-health-care-costs/?search=obamacare#.VkI7hmwViko (votesmart.org)

Yes

Immigration: Do you support requiring immigrants who are unlawfully present to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?

Vote Smart's Research

Signed a letter stating, "We write you today to thank you for standing firm and forcing the Senate to act on a Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill that stops President Obama's unlawful executive actions on immigration." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/953077/letter-to-john-boehner-speaker-of-the-house-of-representatives-kevin-mccarthy-majority-leader-of-the-house-of-representatives-and-steve-scalise-majority-whip-of-the-house-of-representatives-executive-action-on-immigration/?search=immigration#.VYxsMXUViko (votesmart.org)

"Zinke supports amendments to the 2015 FY Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill which will completely defund President Obama's illegal actions, end DACA and deferred action, and expedite the deportation of domestic violence perpetrators and sex offenders." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/947684/zinke-moves-forward-to-defund-president-obamas-unconstitutional-executive-amnesty-actions#.VaP9sHUVhHx (votesmart.org)

No

Marriage: Do you support same-sex marriage?

Vote Smart's Research

The Missoulian "The term 'marriage' is sensitive to Christians. I just donât agree with âsame sexâ â the term. I donât disagree with the union. You know, maybe that group should embrace union." http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/u-s-house-candidates-square-off-in-billings/article_905a46b6-d06c-11e3-85e1-001a4bcf887a.html (missoulian.com)

Yes

National Security: Do you support increased American intervention in Iraq and Syria beyond air support?

Vote Smart's Research

"We need to recognize that we cannot conduct an air war alone. ISIS will continue to expand and influence under the misguided policy of this administration. We have to put Islamic radicals and terrorist organizations on the run and you don't do that by air operations alone." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/953515/seal-vet-lawmaker-obamas-foreign-policy-incites-terrorists#.VaQAvHUVhHw (votesmart.org)

"We need to isolate them by establishing a US led no-fly zone along the the borders and enhance the military capability of the Kurds and those Iraqi forces committed to defeating the ISIS threat." http://votesmart.org/public-statement/927016/zinke-challenges-president-obama-calls-for-additional-action-on-isis (votesmart.org)

Unknown Position

Social Security: Do you support allowing individuals to divert a portion of their Social Security taxes into personal retirement accounts?

Vote Smart's Research

Key

Official Position: Candidate had the Political Courage to address this issue directly.

Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue directly, but Project Vote Smart inferred this issue position based on the candidate's public statements, voting record, and evaluations from special interest groups.

Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue.

Project Vote Smart's Research: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position.

Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as the candidate has submitted it. Project Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Montana State Legislative Election 2008 Political Courage Test

This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.

The Political Courage Test asks candidates which items they will support if elected. It does not ask them to indicate which items they will oppose. Through extensive research of public polling data, we discovered that voters are more concerned with what candidates would support when elected to office, not what they oppose. If a candidate does not select a response to any part or all of any question, it does not necessarily indicate that the candidate is opposed to that particular item.

I am pro-life, but blieve that the difficult decision to Abort a child is the providence of God and family, not government. I support streamlining the adoption process to healthy and qualified homes. I further support parential notification.

State Budget: Indicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.

Maintain Status

a) Education (Higher)

Maintain Status

b) Education (K-12)

Maintain Status

c) Emergency preparedness

Maintain Status

d) Environment

Maintain Status

e) Health care

Maintain Status

f) Law enforcement

Slightly Increase

g) Transportation and highway infrastructure

Slightly Decrease

h) Welfare

i) Other or expanded categories

Promote recruitment and maintaining quality classroom teachersProvide incentives to keep Montana kids in state post graduation from college or vocational school. Consolidate schools purchasing and administration departments where appropriate and feasible.

State Taxes: Indicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category, you can use a number more than once.

Maintain Status

a) Alcohol taxes

Maintain Status

b) Cigarette taxes

Maintain Status

c) Corporate taxes

Maintain Status

d) Gasoline taxes

Maintain Status

e) Income taxes (incomes below $75,000)

Maintain Status

f) Income taxes (incomes above $75,000)

Greatly Decrease

g) Property taxes

Maintain Status

h) Vehicle taxes

i) Other or expanded categories

Our government should spend within its means. Montana should always be vigilant to exam ways to increase government efficiency and reduce waste. Providing incentives for clean, small business opportunities promotes a needed long term revenue stream. I believe in a fair and progressive tax system that does not penalize incentive and innovation.

No

1) Should accounts such as a "rainy day" fund be used to balance the state budget?

No

2) Should fee increases be used to balance the state budget?

3) Other or expanded principles

I strongly support meaningful property tax reform to ensure that Montanans do not get taxed out of their homes and/or farms.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding education.

b) Support federal education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students (No Child Left Behind).

X

c) Support state education standards and testing requirements for K-12 students.

X

d) Support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams.

X

e) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any public school.

f) Allow parents to use vouchers to send their children to any private or religious school.

X

g) Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.

X

h) Support using a merit pay system for teachers.

X

i) Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help make college more affordable.

j) Support allowing illegal immigrant high school graduates of Montana to pay in-state tuition at public universities.

k) Other or expanded principles

I strongly support recruiting and maintaining quality classroom teachers. I strongly support providing incentives for Montana kids to stay in Montana after graduation. I strongly support vocation schools that provide needed skills in the Montana marketplace.

I strongly support reforming workers compensation and unemployment insurance. I strongly believe in creating the opportunity for good paying jobs, but disagree in providing long term entitlement programs. I support aggressive job training and skill enhancement programs in the industrial trades to maintain market competitiveness.

h) Enact environmental regulations even if they are stricter than federal law.

i) Other or expanded principles

I support a sustainable yield policy in the harvest of forest products and strongly support timber harvest in areas that require thinning for fire prevention. I support increased coal production for electrical generation and believe it can and should be done with adequate environmental safeguards. I believe the use of alternate energy sources and clean coal is preferred over petroleum based fuels. In some cases, Federal law falls short, in other cases Federal law is too stringent.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding guns.

a) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?

Yes

b) Should citizens be allowed to carry concealed guns?

No

c) Should a license be required for gun possession?

Undecided

d) Do you support current levels of enforcement of existing state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?

Undecided

e) Do you support current state restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?

f) Other or expanded principles

I strongly support the right to bear arms for hunting and personal protection. I believe that background checks are prudent and necessary. I also believe that the sale of heavy weapons and specialized military weapon systems should be banned for public use. In most cases, I believe that in areas of high security, such as courtrooms, airports, and military bases, that concealed weapons should not be allowed.

Indicate which principles you support (if any) regarding health.

a) Ensure that citizens have access to basic health care through managed care, insurance reforms, or state-funded care where necessary.

b) Guaranteed medical care to all citizens is not a responsibility of state government.

X

c) Limit the amount of damages that can be awarded in medical malpractice lawsuits.

X

d) Allow patients to sue their HMOs.

X

e) Require hospitals and labs to release reports on infections that are a risk to public health, while not compromising patient confidentiality.

X

f) Legalize physician assisted suicide in Montana.

g) Support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes.

h) Other or expanded principles

I support providing financial incentives to maintain affordable private health insurance through caps on medical malpractice and through group rates. I do not believe the government can provide health insurance better than the market.

f) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?

No

g) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?

No

h) Should the state government consider race and gender in state government contracting and hiring decisions?

No

i) Do you support affirmative action in public college admissions?

No

j) Should Montana continue affirmative action programs?

Yes

k) Do you support state funding of stem cell research?

No

l) Do you support state funding of embryonic stem cell research?

No

m) Do you support allowing pharmacists who conscientiously object to emergency contraception to refuse to dispense it?

n) Other or expanded principles

I do not support same sex marriages or the adoption of children by same-sex couples. I am undecided on the issue of same-sex civil union. I support allowing voluntary prayer on public property provided there is no undue influence to do so.

Legislative Priorities

Please explain in a total of 100 words or less, your top two or three priorities if elected. If they require additional funding for implementation, please explain how you would obtain this funding.

Meaningful Property Tax ReformReform Workers Compensation and Unemployment Insurance Provide incentives for small business opportunitiesProvide incentives for Montana kids to stay in Montana post college or vocational educationEnsure reasonable public assess to public lands, rivers, and lakesExpediate clean coal production and electrical generation capacity